Not from around here? You’re going to love St. Louis.
Amazing outdoor spaces, one-of-a-kind museums, world-class theater experiences, and a wealth of internship and job opportunities means this city doesn’t just have "something for everyone" — it has something for you. SLU LAW's location in downtown St. Louis is the perfect home base for exploring all the city has to offer.
Where Exactly is Saint Louis?
Close to everything
St. Louis, Missouri, is located in the Midwestern United States near the Missouri-Illinois border. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River, St. Louis is home to the iconic Gateway Arch, eight Fortune 500 companies, thriving sports, cultural and food scenes, and much more.
Easily accessible by air, car and train, St. Louis is one of the largest cities in the Midwest. And with its rich history and more free attractions than any place in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C., this city offers an affordable and exciting urban experience for young professionals.
When SLU LAW was founded in 1843, it became the first law school west of the Mississippi River!
When SLU LAW was founded in 1843, it became the first law school west of the Mississippi River!
Opportunity and innovation
At SLU LAW, you’ll have unique opportunities to get involved in the St. Louis community. Area businesses — from Fortune 500 companies to startups — along with law firms, nonprofits and world-class hospitals offer outstanding options for internships and other hands-on learning.
More than 52,000 SLU alumni live in the St. Louis area, giving you a network of Billikens to connect with before and after graduation.
St. Louis is a center for innovation and high-tech jobs, from health care and bioscience to life science and geospatial, making it the ideal place to launch a legal career in those fields and many more.
Get to know STL
What College Students Love About St. Louis
In the Center of It All
Did you know that Saint Louis University School of Law puts you at the heart of downtown St. Louis, next door to the region's most exciting sports, entertainment and business districts? This gives you easy access to the top cultural attractions, innovative startups and law firms in the area.
Right Next Door
- Civil Courts Building
- Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
- Catalyst Coffee Bar + Art St. Louis
- City Garden Sculpture Park
2 Miles to...
- SLU's main campus (Simon Recreation Center, Student Health Center)
- SLU's Chaifetz Arena
- Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
- Fabulous Fox Theatre
- Powell Symphony Hall
5-minute walk to...
- Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium
- Old St. Louis County Courthouse
- Gateway Arch
- St. Louis Public Library
- St. Louis Post Office
- Enterprise Center
- St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
- City Museum
- Culinaria grocery store
- A variety of restaurants on Washington Avenue
5-minute drive to...
- Forest Park (with the Saint Louis Art Museum, Zoo, Science Center, Missouri History Museum and The Muny theatre)
- The South Grand and Tower Grove neighborhoods, home to some of St. Louis’ best ethnic dining
- The Soulard neighborhood, home to the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside New Orleans in the U.S.
- Cortex, St. Louis’ urban innovation district
- IKEA
Whatever You’re Into, you’ll find it here
St. Louis is a lot of things: historic, diverse, growing, one of the best sports cities in the United States and home to an ever-changing food scene that's earned the city a reputation as "one of the country's most exciting food cities" (Zagat).
Hungry?
When you visit campus, ask someone about toasted ravioli, Imo’s Pizza, gooey butter cake and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Locals — including SLU LAW students — love to introduce visitors to these St. Louis favorites. You just may discover your next food obsession.
Need Caffeine?
Throughout the city, you'll find unique coffee and tea shops. Our students' favorites include: Catalyst Coffee Bar, Park Avenue Coffee, Kaldi's Coffee, Blueprint Coffee, Comet Coffee, Foundation Grounds Coffeehouse, MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse, The Mud House, Northwest Coffee Roasting, Rise Coffee, Deer Creek Coffee, Teatopia and The London Tea Merchant.
St. Louis Neighborhoods to Know
SLU LAW students say these are their favorite areas of the city to explore:
Downtown
Home to the law school, as well as the Gateway Arch and the city’s home teams — the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues — plus lots of restaurants and the one-of-a-kind City Museum.
Midtown
Home to SLU's main campus and the city’s esteemed arts district, rich with theatre and music.
The Hill
Nationally known for Italian cuisine, this neighborhood is your spot for pasta, gelato and cannoli — and local-favorite toasted ravioli.
Central West End
The CWE is a mix of sidewalk cafes, restaurants, galleries, startups, apartments and homes.
The Loop
Named one of the “10 Great Streets in America,” the Delmar Loop is a thriving core of nightlife, with unique shops, music venues and restaurants.
South Grand + Tower Grove
Near SLU’s Medical Center, the South Grand strip includes funky boutiques, exotic cuisine and the beautiful Tower Grove Park.
Dogtown + Maplewood
South of Forest Park, you’ll find gems like a historic Irish pub, a pinball bar, an artisan chocolate shop and a donut store devoted to unusual creations.
Soulard
Home to the oldest public farmers market in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, as well as bars, shops, the Anheuser-Busch brewery and the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the world.
Outlying
Outside the city limits, there’s a wealth of parks and hiking trails, plus wineries, a sculpture park, animal reserve, amusement park and even a ski resort.
SLU Students’ top St. Louis festivals and fairs
Check Out Some of the Places that Make St. Louis Great
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Academic Programs
We offer a J.D. program that can be completed as a full-time or part-time student, as well as 10 dual-degree options.
Get Involved
With public service opportunities and a variety of student organizations, there are plenty of ways to get involved at SLU LAW and in the legal community.
Career Opportunities
Across the nation, SLU LAW alumni work at small, medium and large firms; excel as CEOs, in-house counsel and environmental consultants; and serve in national, state and local government organizations.